Oregon Public Broadcasting

Former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber said today he's seeking an unprecedented third term in office.

Our Salem correspondent Chris Lehman spoke with Kitzhaber just a short time ago, and joins us now from the Capitol.

Hi Chris. The question of whether Kitzhaber would run again has been out there for quite some time now and today Oregonians got the answer.

Chris Lehman:  "Indeed, and the answer as you said is, John Kitzhaber IS in the race.  If you recall Kitzhaber served as Oregon governor from 1995 until 2003.  The state’s Constitution bars anyone from serving three consecutive terms, but you’re allowed to run again once you’ve sat out.  Now that current Governor Ted Kulongoski is nearing the end of his second term, Kitzhaber told me he thinks the time is right for him to get back into politics."

John Kitzhaber:  “We got some tough times coming ahead, and we cannot solve those if we allow ourselves to be broken down into partisans and stakeholders rather than Oregonians who really do have a common bond and a common stake in the future.”

Beth Hymans: "Why do you think it took Kitzhaber so many months to decide, or announce, his plans?"

Chris Lehman: "I asked him that and he basically said Oregonians aren’t all that interested in politics over the summer, so he wasn’t in a hurry to make a decision.  It is worth noting that the Democratic primary isn’t until next May.

Beth Hyams:  "What does this mean for the race? Is it a game-changer?"

Chris Lehman: "Possibly.  On the one hand, no Oregon governor has ever served a third term.  The last person to try was Republican Tom McCall in the late 70’s, and he lost in the primary to eventual winner Vic Atiyeh.  So Kitzhaber is definitely not a shoe-in.  Other the other hand, he has built-in name recognition and his election for governor wasn’t exactly a squeaker."

Beth Hyams:  "It seems like some other announcements are brewing.  Who else is running"

Chris Lehman: "Probably the most likely other candidate on the Democratic side at this point is former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury.  I talked with Bradbury this afternoon and he says Kitzhaber’s decision will have no bearing on his political plans.  Bradbury still isn’t officially in the race but he has a pair of announcements planned in about two weeks.  Another potential Democrat in the race is two-term state representative Brian Clem from Salem.  Clem has said publicly that he won’t run if Kitzhaber gets in the race.  Clem has an announcement planned for Thursday morning in Portland, so we’ll know more then.

"On the Republican side, the only candidate in the race right now is businessman Allen Alley, who started his campaign way back in January just a few months after losing his bid for Oregon treasurer.  Another likely Republican candidate is State Senator Jason Atkinson of Grants Pass.  He hasn’t made a formal announcement but he told the Medford Mail-Tribune today that he will be in the race."